Kennedy, Bielat debate over how to fix the economy

Tuesday

Oct 16, 2012 at 12:01 AMOct 16, 2012 at 4:02 PM

Joe Kennedy III and Sean Bielat quibbled over how to tackle the deficit, create jobs and how to fix the country's health care system, among other issues dominating both the local and national political conversation during the third debate between the two Fourth Congressional District candidates at Wellesley College on Tuesday evening.

Lee V. Gaines

Joe Kennedy III and Sean Bielat quibbled over how to tackle the deficit, create jobs and how to fix the country's health care system, among other issues dominating both the local and national political conversation during the third debate between the two Fourth Congressional District candidates at Wellesley College on Tuesday evening.

Bielat, a businessman and former Marine, and Kennedy, grandson of former Democratic Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and former prosecutor for the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office, are engaged in a heated race for the congressional seat held by Rep. Barney Frank for 31 years.

The debate was hosted by the district's local League of Women Voters, and moderated by Jo-Ann Berry, an Acton resident and member of the town's local League of Women Voters. The questions were submitted by both League and audience members.

In regards to the deficit, Kennedy said he supports the framework of the Simpson-Bowles commission, a commission created by President Barack Obama to address the country's long-term fiscal situation.

"We need to get ourselves on a pathway to fiscal responsibility, with a balanced mix of both spending cuts and revenue increases," Kennedy said. He added that such a plan would "remove uncertainty from the marketplace."

Kennedy accused Bielat of supporting Vice Presidental candidate Paul Ryan's budget plan, which he said would pass on health care costs to seniors, cut funding for Pell Grants and other programs that benefit middle class families.

In response, Bielat said, "that stuff is just not in there," referring to the Ryan budget.

"If we grow the economy we can close some of the deficit from people making more money," Bielat said. "[In the] short term, we can look at tax relief and make the regulatory environment more predictable so people don't keep money on the side lines and instead invest and grow their business."

In response to a question from a college student concerned about her employment opportunities after she graduates, both candidates acknowledged the country's current job crisis.

"There are hundreds of billions of dollars sitting on the sidelines of our economy, banks won't lend and companies won't invest," Kennedy said. "You provide clarity and long-term certainty and you will see that money put to use and the economy start to pick up again."

Bielat said the same things that will get the economy growing as a whole will also produce jobs for recent grads, but said that the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, is "one of the sources of unpredictability."

"Many small business owners have told me over and over again, 'I don't know what's coming, 'I don't know how the Affordable Care Act is going to affect my business,'" he said.

While Bielat said he would vote to repeal the ACA, Kennedy voiced his strong support for the legislation.

Though Bielat agreed that the legislation in Massachusetts, otherwise known as Romneycare, was a good thing for the state, he said "that doesn't mean it is the best solution across the country."

Bielat favored leaving health care decisions at the state level "where they can craft solutions more applicable to their state's needs."

Though talk of the economy dominated the debate, Bielat and Kennedy sparred over issues central to their party; Bielat affirmed that he was prolife, while Kennedy affirmed he was prochoice; Kennedy said he favored allowing 12 million undocumented immigrants to earn a path to citizenship, while Bielat said deportation for some should be considered.

But throughout the debate, Bielat stood on his platform as a businessman, and said, "we need to get people in Washington who have actually worked in business.who have experience to understand what works and what doesn't, and what government should do and shouldn't do. Joe doesn't have that experience."

Kennedy, who has been accused of standing on his family's name in his run for congress, said, "I think when it comes down to my experience and my dedication to public service and my record, I am very proud to stand on that."

(Editor's note: this story has been corrected to reflect that Kennedy said he favored allowing undocumented immigrants to earn a path to citizenship, not to give them citizenship.)

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